Signature - Q1, 2008 - (Page 31) product on their own,” says Elangovan, noting that many manufacturers buy modules and other solutions from third-party companies. “If they have to alter the protocol of the lower layers that are not a part of their own qualification, they may miss something inadvertently.” If the root cause is a product issue, then the Bluetooth SIG helps the member resolve the issue so the product can perform better in the marketplace. “We don’t get a lot of pushback from members,” says Elangovan. “It’s usually more of a collaboration.” Finding the Win-Win Often the QEP audit and subsequent investigations uncover solutions for members. “It saves them a lot of time, effort and money spent trying to figure out what happened,” Elangovan says. “It gives them the tools to correct issues quickly and effectively. The improvements to the test specifications will allow all members to verify that the correction was complete and correct.” He continues, “Most members want their products to create a good experience in the marketplace, so they meet the qualification criteria. Members generally have the same goals as we do.” If the member company doesn’t work with the Bluetooth SIG to correct an issue, the QEP has a clearly defined escalation process, with removal of the member’s listing as a last resort. Improving interoperability, even after a product ships, is essential for maintaining the integrity of the Bluetooth wireless brand. “To the end user, the brand means these products will work together wirelessly,” explains Peter Hauser, product unit manager for the Bluetooth SIG. “We are all in the business of promoting and protecting that brand. To keep it at the forefront and to protect the image of the brand, we all need to work together to maintain it. The QEP is designed to protect the license and brand from errors that have made it out into the field.” Looking forward, the QEP will begin to aggressively follow up on the work being done by the Bluetooth SIG’s brand enforcement team. Their work applies only to nonmember companies that are producing nonqualified Bluetooth enabled wireless products. To avoid legal action related to the unauthorized use of the Bluetooth technology logo and word mark, nonmember companies are usually persuaded to join the Bluetooth SIG and qualify their Bluetooth wireless technology products. “Once they become a member, we follow up with them on the qualification enforcement aspect,” says Elangovan. Ultimately, the Qualification Enforcement Program saves time and money for members and helps improve the performance and interoperability of their products. “That’s the real intention of the program, when you strip away the legalities and everything else,” says Elangovan. David English is a technical writer whose articles have appeared in publications such as CNET, Forbes, Fortune, PC Magazine and ZDNet. ”Qualification enforcement identifies products that aren’t behaving properly or haven’t gone through licensing mechanics. We help members rectify the situation.” — Manivannan Elangovan, the Bluetooth SIG Bluetooth Special Interest Group | 31
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